The Oakland Raiders have signed their first-round pick, cornerback Gareon Conley, to his rookie contract, the team announced Friday.Conley remains under police investigation for allegedly raping a woman in a Cleveland hotel on April 9.The No. 24 overall pick has denied the allegations and the Raiders said the day after he was selected that they were comfortable taking him."The bottom line is we've done miles and miles of research to make sure we were totally comfortable with our decision, which we were," said Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie.Conley cannot be disciplined by the NFL regardless of the investigation's outcome, as the alleged incident occurred prior to the draft.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A key component of what again figures to be a topflight Denver Broncos defense may be sidelined for the better part of the next two months.Third-year pass-rusher Shane Ray, who was poised to step into a lead role opposite Von Miller, will undergo surgery Saturday to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist.Upon announcing the injury Friday, head coach Vance Joseph told reporters Ray is expected to miss the next six-to-eight weeks, via Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post.Ray enjoyed a breakout season of sorts as a sophomore in 2016, posting eight sacks and 48 total tackles in 16 games. DeMarcus Ware's retirement cleared the way for him to be a full-time starter this fall, but it now appears he'll miss all preseason action and a good portion of regular-season matchups in September.The former first-round pick's impending absence poses a second major concern for the front seven, as Shaq Barrett's recovery from a hip injury is still without any sort of clear timeline.Joseph also added he will soon meet with John Elway about a potential roster move to bolster the pass-rusher group alongside Miller.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Often described as the NFL's judge, jury, and executioner, commissioner Roger Goodell has reportedly taken a step back from the Ezekiel Elliott domestic violence investigation.Goodell hasn't been personally involved in the investigation's proceedings and hasn't been present at any of the disciplinary hearings involving Elliott, a source told Deadspin's Dom Cosentino.NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told Cosentino that the NFL's personal conduct policy allows the commissioner to absent himself from the disciplinary process if he so chooses.Still, it's a curious decision by Goodell, who has made player discipline a hallmark of his tenure and has consistently made sure he has the last word on any punishments the league hands out.The NFL is reportedly nearing its conclusion into the allegations leveled at Elliott, and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Thursday he expects the league's verdict "imminently."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Don't count out the possibility of Colin Kaepernick landing in Baltimore just yet.Though the Ravens' initial response to Joe Flacco's injury was to sign former arena league quarterback David Olson, that move was about little more than adding a camp arm.Head coach John Harbaugh explained Friday that the signing wouldn't preclude his team from ending Kaepernick's extended time on the free-agent market."Those are two different categories of players," Harbaugh said, according to the team's official website. "I don't think one precludes the other because they're different categories of players completely."Harbaugh, who first revealed Thursday that there was interest in Kaepernick, went on to suggest that the Ravens were still evaluating whether adding a replacement for Flacco is even necessary."It has to do with our need," Harbaugh said. "Joe is day-to-day. Do we really need to make that move or not? That's the decision that really has to be made."There have been conflicting reports on Flacco's status following a recent back injury, with expected timelines ranging anywhere from one-to-six weeks. Should he require any sort of lengthy sideline stint, perhaps the Ravens would commence a pursuit of Kaepernick.For the time being, though, both Flacco and the Ravens seem confident that the veteran signal-caller won't miss much time.The Seattle Seahawks are the only team to have brought Kaepernick in for a visit since he opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers at the beginning of the offseason. The difficulty he's had finding a new home has caused many to wonder whether his non-existent market is a leaguewide response to the pregame national anthem protests he led in 2016.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winning his fifth Super Bowl hasn't done anything to soften Bill Belichick's approach to answering the media's questions.After being asked to evaluate the performances of multiple players from the first day of training camp within the first 10 minutes of his press conference, the New England Patriots head coach went on a signature - but rare - rant about why the reporters were asking for the impossible."You know, you guys are asking a lot of questions about, 'What have we seen from this guy, what have we seen from that guy?' We've yet to put on pads. Alright?" Belichick said, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. "So I understand this is a pretty talented group of evaluators in this room, but in all honesty, our evaluations come more in training camp when we actually practice and can fully execute the techniques and the plays that we're trying to do."So, the main thing we try to get done in the spring, and the main thing we're trying to get done in these (first two) days, is to teach the players what to do, to give them the most fundamental instruction we can, given the restraints we have based on practice. And then when padded practices, and I would say 'real training camp,' starts tomorrow and will continue for quite a while after that - including preseason games - is when the real evaluations start."So I know everybody is all excited when a guy catches a pass. But when the defense doesn't jam him, or they're not allowed to, really - because we don't want heavy contact out there - aren't competing for the contact at the end of the play, then it's not quite the same when all of that is going on."Maybe Belichick's seemingly inevitable sixth ring will bring him newfound patience. Or maybe not.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tennessee Titans signed Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jurrell Casey to a multi-year extension, the team announced Friday.The terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the extension is worth $60.4 million over four years with $40 million guaranteed. He had two years remaining on his current contract."It is rare to do a contract extension early in this business," said Titans general manager Jon Robinson. "But Jurrell is a unique player in that he was drafted here, has already done an extension with the team, is a standout in our community, and has earned multiple Pro Bowl invitations. We are happy to have him as a Titan for many years to come."While Casey has mostly flown under the radar during his six-year career, he's one of the NFL's best defensive lineman and should see his fame soar if the Titans fulfill their potential this season.He racked up 44 total tackles and five sacks in 2016, enough to earn him his second All-Star nod.Casey's $15.1-million new money average slots him in as the 10th-highest-paid defensive lineman and sixth in terms of defensive tackles.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Odell Beckham Jr. is shooting for the stars in his first big NFL payday, and while it's unclear if the Giants will grant his wish, they aren't shying away from potentially opening up their check books.Related: Beckham wants to be highest-paid player in NFLGiants co-owner John Mara reiterated Friday that his team wants to keep its star receiver around for the foreseeable future."He deserves to be paid," Mara said, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan. "and we're going to pay him. ... I just don't feel like there is any need to rush into it. But he's going to end up getting paid at some point."Beckham is contracted through the 2018 season, and with the franchise tag available at that point, New York seems to have little incentive to come to the negotiating table.However, Beckham said Friday he won't attempt to force them."I don't have time (to hold out)," Beckham said. "I'm 24 years old. I'm trying to play football until I can't play football anymore. I can't get caught up taking days and not playing."Le'Veon (Bell) is in a different situation. He's been doing this. He's a running back. Their career expectancy is a little shorter due to stats and all that. Le'Veon is a guy who has proved himself time and time again. ... I hope Le'Veon gets the highest contract a running back has ever had in history of the entire NFL."... I'm not here to hold out. I'm here to practice. I'm here to get better each and every day. I feel I have stuff I can improve on, stuff I need to work on, and really stuff I'm willing to work on."Related: Is Beckham's wish to be NFL's highest-paid player realistic?Mara said earlier this week negotiations have yet to begin between the Giants and Beckham's reps and gave no indication they'll start this season.While Beckham is set to earn just $1.8 million in 2017, he isn't exactly strapped for cash after Nike signed him to the most lucrative shoe deal in NFL history last month."It definitely made me comfortable," Beckham said of the Nike deal. "It definitely was helpful at the right time. I've got a family to take care of."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens showed no panic when quarterback Joe Flacco declared he'd be out at least a week of camp with a back problem. They would just move backup Ryan Mallett up to play with the first team and sign a former arena league quarterback David Olson.They may be worried now after one day with Mallett at the helm. The journeyman quarterback had a day to forget on Friday, as described by ESPN's Jamison Hensley:

The Atlanta Falcons had hoped to have signed running back Devonta Freeman to an extension by Thursday. That deadline has passed, but negotiations are still ongoing.The team and player are still discussing a five-year extension that would make Freeman one of the highest-paid players at his position, according to Michael Silver of the NFL Network.After three seasons, Freeman has become one of the league's most dependable backs. He may share duties with Tevin Coleman, but he has produced back-to-back 11-touchdown, 1,000-yard seasons on the ground.Freeman has spoken extensively this offseason of his desire for a new deal. He's entering the final year of his rookie contract and is set to hit free agency in 2018.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins have not offered wideout Jarvis Landry a contract extension and are expected to let him play out his deal, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports.Landry is due to earn a shade under $900,000 in the final year of his rookie contract.No receiver other than Landry's college teammate Odell Beckham Jr. has more receptions across their first three NFL seasons (288), but questions remain about whether Landry is a true No. 1 receiver or merely a collector of high-percentage targets.The Dolphins are apparently willing to wait and revisit that question after the upcoming campaign.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oakland Raiders left tackle Donald Penn will not report for the start of training camp because he's unhappy with his contract, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.Penn is due to earn $5.8 million this season, but wants to be paid like a top-10 left tackle, which he graded as in 2016, according to Pro Football Focus.Trent Williams of the Washington Redskins leads all left tackles with an average yearly salary of $13.6 million. Penn ranks outside the top 20 at his position.The Raiders recently made Derek Carr the highest-paid player in football with a five-year deal worth $125 million. When Carr signed, he touted that his contract was structured to allow the Raiders to pay his supporting cast.Penn is likely seeking to test whether that's true.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams were due to report to training camp Friday morning and star defensive tackle Aaron Donald was not among the players present, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.Donald has expressed to his team that he would like a new contract and he skipped voluntary organized team activities this offseason amid negotiations.Since he was selected in the first round of the 2012 draft, Donald has blossomed into one of the league's premier defenders. He has two first-team All-Pro selections and three Pro Bowl appearances to his name after just three seasons.Such production led Rams general manager Les Snead to admit in March that his interior defender "deserves a raise."Donald is entering Year 4 of his rookie deal and the Rams picked up the fifth-year option in his contract. He's currently set to earn just $1.8 million in base salary and hit free agency in 2019.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says he's taking his career year by year after mulling retirement this offseason.Roethlisberger told Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he isn't planning beyond this season and reiterated that retiring after 2017 is on the table."Age," Roethlisberger answered when asked why he has a new perspective on his career. "It's just, it's 14 years; that's a long time. I think the average life expectancy in the NFL is three years, maybe three and a half now."Roethlisberger, who turned 35 in March, also said his wife wants him to give up football.The quarterback has suffered (and played through) numerous injuries in recent seasons. He also referenced a recent study on CTE and a desire to spend more time with his kids as reasons he's now contemplating hanging up his cleats.Regardless of what he decides after the season, Roethlisberger pledged to make his 2017 campaign count."I feel if I commit to anything past right now, I'm cheating now," he said. "I'm looking forward to this season, and I’m going to give it everything I have and afterward we’ll sit down and do some (thinking) again."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco did his best to downplay a back injury that some reports suggest could force him to miss more than a month.Flacco, who wouldn't call his ailment a disc injury, told reporters Friday he's dealing with "stiffness" and is hopeful he will miss only a week of training camp.The 32-year-old added he isn't even thinking about the possibility of missing the regular-season opener.Back injuries are tricky and can linger, but for now it sounds like the Ravens shouldn't be particularly concerned about their starter.The Ravens added former arena league quarterback David Olson on Friday, rather than Colin Kaepernick (as some reports suggested they might), but Olsen is likely just a camp arm.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars football is back. Are you excited?That's essentially the question the team's official Twitter account posed to fans Thursday:

The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to announce an extension with head coach Mike Tomlin, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.The Steelers have been known to announce such signings early in training camp. Their last extension with Tomlin came in July 2015.Tomlin, 45, has coached the Steelers for the past 10 years, in which time he has a 103-57 regular-season record and one Super Bowl title. The worst the team has fared under his watch is 8-8. They have produced three consecutive seasons of 10 wins or more and are coming off an appearance in the AFC title game.The Steelers have been the embodiment of continuity at the head-coaching position. They have had but three coaches since 1969. Chuck Noll held the position for 23 years before giving way to Bill Cowher, who stayed in Pittsburgh for 15 years.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers is entering his 13th NFL season and is coming off a year in which he attempted more than 700 passes. If the Green Bay Packers are to keep their franchise quarterback in peak condition, they know they have to refrain from overworking him."This is the most he'll throw all year," head coach Mike McCarthy said of Rodgers' training camp workload, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "We've always charted Aaron's throws here, particularly the last couple of years. So we're conscious of that. But he gives good feedback. He doesn't like to not practice, the importance of him being on the field is important. But we've got to make sure we take care of his arm."The New York Giants said Thursday they'll have quarterback Eli Manning on a "pitch count" as he enters his 14th season. The Packers won't go that far, but Rodgers said he'll play it safe if he's feeling overworked."I'm usually smart about the first week, as far as not getting too many (throws), but I'm competitive as well, so I want to be out there for the reps," Rodgers said. "I want to be on the same page as the young guys, the new guys. There's a great deal of communication, so if there's any issues with me throwing, of course there usually aren't, I'll tell (McCarthy)."But no, I don't really have any restrictions on me."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens have signed a quarterback. It is not Colin Kaepernick.With starting quarterback Joe Flacco expected to miss at least one week - and what could be as many as six weeks - due to a back injury, the Ravens brought aboard another passer to participate in training camp. Baltimore elected to sign former arena league quarterback David Olson.After the announcement of Flacco's injury on Wednesday, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh suggested he might sign a quarterback that previously played for his brother, Jim. Instead of signing Kaepernick, who quarterbacked Jim's San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance in 2012, Harbaugh chose Olson, a former Stanford alum.Related: Could Flacco's injury finally open the door for Kaepernick?Olson will join Ryan Mallett and Dustin Vaughan on the Ravens' depth chart.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL continues to move toward a long-awaited decision on the Ezekiel Elliott investigation.Discussing his star running back's situation in an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Thursday, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones both shared a feeling of an upcoming announcement and reiterated his support."I think we'll have a decision imminently," Jones said. "Of course, I don't know what that will be and wouldn't want to have conjecture in any way involving that. What I have seen, though, is the presentation of Zeke and his people and I've seen the league's presentation. There's no domestic violence involved here."The NFL has long been looking into a pair of domestic violence claims brought against Elliott by his ex-girlfriend last year, the first in January and the second in July.A recent report from ESPN's Adam Schefter indicated Elliott could face a one- or two-game suspension when the NFL concludes its investigation.Dallas is scheduled to open the 2017 season with games against the New York Giants and Denver Broncos.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If Kyle Shanahan was hurt by the criticism from his former quarterback, Matt Ryan, regarding the speed in which the now-former Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator sent in the play calls during Super Bowl LI, he didn't let it show.Ryan said Shanahan - now the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers - pushed the limits of the clock and restricted the pivot from adjusting any of the calls that ultimately led to the Falcons scoring just seven second-half points and allowing the New England Patriots to mount a 25-point comeback.While he admitted there is always room for improvement, Shanahan defended the speed of his play-calling."Any play-caller that you talk to that's usually one of the most important things and something I pride myself on a lot, is how quick can you get a play call into a quarterback," Shanahan said, according to Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area."And the quicker you do the more comfortable it is, not just for him but the entire offense. They're not panicked. They're being able to move to the line. And with me as a coordinator personally, I try almost every situation to get it in as fast as possible. And I can be honest, there's sometimes I do better than others. There are sometimes I don't do it as good. There's sometimes I do it real good."In Shanahan's defense, this didn't seem to be an issue for the Falcons during his tenure. Over the past two years, Atlanta was one of only three teams to avoid a delay-of-game penalty throughout an entire season, and was the only club to do so in both 2015 and 2016.Whether the pressure of the Super Bowl and Atlanta's dwindling lead caused Shanahan to make uncharacteristic mistakes is unclear, but he refused to enter a war of words with Ryan - even praising the 2016 NFL MVP."I was really proud of those guys on offense, which is a lot of credit to Matt and the rest of the guys, that regardless when we did get it in, two years straight without a delay of game and being the only team to even do that one year I think was a pretty impressive task," Shanahan said. "We did a good job of that as a whole."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just one week after a report suggested Mike Williams' rookie season was in jeopardy, there seems to be some hope for a much shorter sideline stint.Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco shared some optimism Thursday that his first-round receiver will be able to avoid surgery on his injured back."He's been responding well," Telesco said, according to Eric D. Williams of ESPN. "The path, right now, is rehab and strengthening. That's good news, obviously."Williams is reportedly still expected to start training camp on the physically unable to perform list, but that's a designation that can be removed whenever he's cleared to practice.Telesco's additional comments suggest there's a chance the former Clemson standout can work his way back onto the field toward the latter portion of the summer practice schedule."He'll see our doctors this weekend and will get more of a timetable of where he is," he added. "I think he's more trending towards not working early in camp, which is not a surprise. But we'll kind of take it from there."Williams being available this season, working alongside a now-healthy Keenan Allen, would be a massive boost to the Chargers' passing game. Helping lead the way to a national title in his final season at the college level, the 22-year-old recorded 98 receptions for 1,361 yards and 11 touchdowns in 15 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for the latest installment of Jon Gruden comeback talk.Only this time, rather than reports of interest that never result in a return to the sidelines, the star coach-turned-broadcaster seems to be putting the word out there himself.In an extensive sit-down with Scott Reynolds and Trevor Sikkema of PewterReport.com, Gruden explained he's in constant preparation for another lead job in the NFL."I've met with several people - I won't deny that," Gruden said of the annual reports on team interest. "People - just about every year I talk about coming back to coach. I'm not in here every day at 4:30 or 4:00 in the morning watching pinball. You know? I'm preparing myself to come back. I am. Every day. I'm preparing to come back."It helps me in my broadcasting and I think if you lose that edge … you can't come back unless you are totally wired with college football, personnel, schemes, the CBA, how people are practicing, trends, you know. You've got stay on top of this stuff."Gruden first rose to coaching stardom with the Oakland Raiders, leading the club to a 38-26 record and a pair of playoff appearances over four seasons from 1998-2001. A blockbuster trade sent him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prior to the 2002 campaign, and his addition would take the club over the top en route to the first Super Bowl in franchise history.He'd go on to coach a total of seven seasons with the Buccaneers, posting a 57-55 record and making three playoff appearances before being fired after the 2008 campaign and promptly landing a color commentary gig on Monday Night Football. Now heading into his ninth year on the job, he's unquestionably one of the most recognizable and highest-paid broadcasters in the sporting world.The coaching carousel so often making its way back to Gruden only to have nothing materialize understandably generates a feeling that the such rumors are only floated as leverage plays against ESPN. But for as much as he may enjoy what he's doing on the TV side of things, his passion for coaching is still abundantly clear."I love ESPN," Gruden said. "I mean I love what I'm doing. I'm with a great team - a great group of guys. I'm still real close to the game. I still stay in contact with a lot of players and coaches at the league at every level. I don't know if (all the talk) is flattering or irritating. I don't really pay attention to a lot of it."But I am - every year - preparing myself to coach. Sometimes I show up at camp and I show up in the offseason and people let me coach. I jump in drills and they still let me install plays and call plays at some places. I still have a lot of fun."The PewterReport piece indicates Gruden is simply biding his time and staying involved in the game until the perfect situation presents itself.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If Odell Beckham Jr. truly has his sights on becoming the highest-paid player in the NFL, he should probably start working on his quarterback skills.In all seriousness, there's nothing wrong with Beckham pushing for all he can get in his first big payday. Too often, players refuse to do what's best for the collective good and fail to push for their real value. Consequently, the market's ceiling doesn't move enough, and the league's middle-class players bear the brunt.Le'Veon Bell, and, to some extent, Kirk Cousins, have begun to buck this trend. Bell is pushing to reinvigorate the stagnant running back market and get paid in a way that better represents his production, as he essentially acts as the Pittsburgh Steelers' lead back and No. 2 option in the passing game.Meanwhile, Cousins, thanks to the Redskins' ineptitude and two seasons of solid production, has arguably more contract leverage than any player in NFL history. He's balked at Washington's offers, knowing what his true value would be if he hits the open market - even if his standing as a passer is still questionable.And Beckham, too, should be well placed to squeeze the Giants for all they're worth when they sit down at the negotiating table as soon as next offseason. The resume he's built over his first three seasons is staggering, he's already one of the NFL's most marketable faces, and New York hasn't been shy in expressing its desire to keep him.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)But - and this is a big but - Beckham has to be realistic in his demands, or things between him and the Giants could get messy very quickly.In the list of highest-paid players in terms of annual salary - which is topped by Derek Carr's $25 million - Von Miller is the first non-quarterback at 16th, according to Spotrac. And you need to keep scrolling down to find the first wide receiver, Antonio Brown, tied for 23rd with a $17-million average.Beckham should easily be able to leapfrog Brown, and maybe, just maybe, he could be the first non-quarterback to break the $20-million-a-year barrier. However, even in today's pass-heavy NFL, the Giants will balk at the prospect of paying a wide receiver more money than any quarterback in the league.And they'll do so because, in the end, teams will always hold the most power in contract negotiations. Players and the NFLPA need to push for a bigger piece of the pie, but it's a tightrope that must be walked with extreme care - and Beckham is looking to sprint along it.The Giants not only hold his rights for the 2018 season, thanks to his $8.459-million fifth-year option, they can also keep him for the foreseeable future without a long-term deal, thanks to the franchise tag. The tag number for receivers is expected to be around $17.5 million for 2019, according to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio. After that, the Giants could tag Beckham again in 2020 for a 20 percent raise over the previous year, and either the 44 percent raise or the quarterback tag for 2021.The exact numbers can't be known at this point, but it'd almost certainly be cheaper than paying Beckham $25 million-plus from 2018 onward.So, unless Beckham is planning on a near-unprecedented standoff with the Giants - which, fair or not, would likely paint him as the greedy villain of the saga due to NFL fans' propensity to side with billionaire owners over millionaire athletes - he needs to concentrate on pushing the ceiling rather than shattering it entirely.One day, hopefully soon, an NFL player will break the cycle of contracts that vastly favor teams. But, sorry, Odell, that player will be one that throws passes, not catches them.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns' training camp is just one day old, but head coach Hue Jackson is already impressed by DeShone Kizer's progress.Jackson said Thursday the rookie quarterback is coming along faster than expected."Yes, he is,'' Jackson said, according to cleveland.com's May Kay Cabot. "He's understanding the offense. I could take you back to his days at OTAs - he struggled calling the plays. The words were a lot simpler. The language was different."I did not see as much of that today. That is improvement. Obviously, he made some good throws and did not turn the ball over. Those things are good. Again, it's just one day. We are not going to make decisions on guys in one day. We have a lot of work to do."Cody Kessler remains the starter, with Jackson announcing Wednesday that the second-year pivot sits atop the depth chart thanks to his superior knowledge of the offense.However, Jackson has been careful throughout the offseason not to put too much pressure on Kizer potentially starting, so his latest comments could signal that the Browns' quarterback competition is already heating up.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers training camp got underway Thursday with one particularly notable absence.Still yet to sign his franchise tag after the two sides failed to reach a long-term agreement ahead of this month's deadline, Le'Veon Bell was not in attendance on report day, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.It's likely only a matter of time before Bell signs his tender for a fully-guaranteed $12.2 million, easily making him the NFL's highest-paid running back this year. Negotiations for a multi-year solution can resume at the end of the season, and such a deal will presumably be a priority for both player and team.But given that an unsigned player can't be subject to any sort of holdout fines, the star running back will evidently take his time before showing up for summer workouts.Another year in line with his past production would give Bell all the more leverage for the kind of lucrative payday he desires.The 25-year-old reaffirmed his status as the ultimate offensive weapon in 12 games last season, taking 261 carries for 1,268 rushing yards, adding 75 receptions for 616 yards, and tallying nine total touchdowns.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was mere minutes after receiving word of Joe Flacco's back injury Wednesday before the majority of the football world was wondering whether the Ravens might be the team to bring in Colin Kaepernick.And you can count Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Torrey Smith - who spent the early part of his career in Baltimore, and each of the past two playing alongside the polarizing quarterback - among those who believe it would be a good fit."I think so," Smith said Thursday, according to Turron Davenport of Eagles Wire. "First of all, I think he's not being signed because people are scared of the publicity that comes with it. Baltimore is a place that can handle that. His old offensive coordinator (Greg Roman) is there as well. They have a foundation there where they can bring anyone in and make them fit into what they're doing there."In addition to the familiarity with Roman, Kaepernick's connection to the Harbaugh family could also work in his favor if the Ravens turn to the free-agent market. The former second-round pick enjoyed a rise to stardom under the guidance of Jim Harbaugh, brother of Ravens head coach John, during the early portions of his time in San Francisco.John even revealed earlier Thursday that the team is interested in Kaepernick and has been in contact with him over the summer.Kaepernick's lengthy stint on the free-agent market has made for a controversial topic in the football community, as there's a widely held belief that teams have stayed away in response to the national anthem protests he carried out last year.Despite having to work his way back from offseason surgeries, and doing so to take the reins of a supremely underwhelming offense, he finished his final season in San Francisco with 2,241 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, and four interceptions across 11 starts.Ryan Mallett is currently in line for first-team practice work with Flacco reportedly facing an absence of anywhere from one-to-six weeks.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants seem to be doing everything they can to keep their leader fresh as he enters the latter stages of his pro career.As general manager Jerry Reese explained on the eve of training camp Thursday, Eli Manning will have his practice workload monitored both before and during his 14th season."You can call it a pitch count. You can frame it like that. You can frame it however you like," Reese said Thursday, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN. "That's a good way to frame it if you like.""We want to make sure that he is fresh in the games late in the year and hopefully going into the playoffs. We want him to be fresh and ready to go."Manning enters his age-36 season looking to bounce back from an up-and-down year in which he managed to throw for 4,027 yards along with 26 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.The Giants will be hoping that Manning can regain his form from a season prior when he put together one of his most productive campaigns.Anything close to that 35-touchdown output would go a long way toward improving upon New York's 25th-ranked offensive standing in 2016 and thus providing a suitable complement to what's now one of the league's most well-rounded defenses.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Whenever the New York Giants decide to start contract talks with Odell Beckham Jr., they should be ready for a war of negotiations.The superstar receiver recently told Uninterrupted he wants to become the league's highest-paid player, topping Derek Carr's five-year, $125-million deal - or whoever else holds the title at that moment."It's like the elephant in the room, and you don't want to talk about it," said Beckham. "But I've gotten to the point in my life where I'm like, 'No, I'm going to ... there's no need to not talk about it.'"I believe that I will be hopefully not just the highest-paid receiver in the league, but the highest-paid, period."Beckham has two years remaining on his rookie contract.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Denver Broncos didn't waste any time filling their need in the offensive backfield.Just one day after losing Devontae Booker to a wrist injury, the Broncos signed free-agent running back Stevan Ridley, the team announced.Booker, who requires surgery for a fracture, is reportedly expected to miss up to six-to-eight weeks.With such a timeline seemingly putting his availability for the regular-season opener in question, the Broncos opt for a veteran to add depth alongside C.J. Anderson and Jamaal Charles.Ridley may prove to be little more than a camp body, as he's bounced around the league and appeared in just nine games over the past two years. He was once a promising young player for conference rival New England Patriots, though, racking up 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore back in 2012.Also in the mix for snaps over the summer is sixth-round rookie De'Angelo Henderson.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When Peyton Manning's retirement left the Broncos vulnerable, the Kansas City Chiefs pounced, ending Denver's five-year reign atop the AFC West last year.While the Raiders' return to relevance was the division's big story, the Chiefs took home the crown thanks to two relatively easy wins over Oakland.Many expect the young, up-and-coming Raiders to take another leap and surpass Kansas City, but the Chiefs still possess one of the most well-rounded rosters in the league.However, in what could be the NFL's most competitive division, do the Alex Smith-led Chiefs have enough ammunition to hold their rivals at bay? Here are the contenders for the AFC West title:Oakland RaidersThe Silver and Black are back, and the NFL is all the better for it.While the pain of the looming relocation to Las Vegas will linger over the franchise for the next two or three years as it awaits the move, the Raiders are well-primed to give Oakland a fitting sendoff.To challenge the Chiefs, however, the Raiders' investments in their defense must pay off. Last season's struggles can be attributed to a unit full of new faces trying to mesh, but it's impossible to ignore the way Smith and an unimposing Chiefs offense sliced through them at will.Another gargantuan leap in performance from Derek Carr would allow the defense some breathing room, as would a running game reinvigorated by Marshawn Lynch. However, neither of those developments is a lock.Oakland is the obvious challenger to Kansas City, but the Raiders' splash on offense needs to be complemented by some sturdiness on the other side of the ball, especially considering the quality of divisional defenses.Denver BroncosJust because the Broncos are no longer kings doesn't mean they can't retake the AFC West crown.Maintaining an elite defense for anything more than a year or two is incredibly difficult, but Denver has managed it. Competing with the Chiefs means the defense can't slip, however, not even a little - which could be easier said than done thanks to the loss of coordinator Wade Phillips and pass rusher DeMarcus Ware.And even if the defense remains among the league's best, it won't matter if Denver picks the wrong man to line up under center. Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch are set to battle during training camp for the right to lead the Broncos; both would be the worst starter in the division, and they're polar opposites in terms of style.Siemian fits the Broncos' defense-first mentality, but his limitations were one of the main reasons behind the team's regression last year. Lynch, meanwhile, has shown few signs he's ready to translate his enviable physical skill set into actual NFL-level production.Denver rode its stellar defense all the way to a Super Bowl a year-and-a-half ago. Repeating the Herculean effort without an improved offense could be too much for Von Miller and Co. A division crown wouldn't shock us - and neither would Denver finishing at the bottom of the West.Los Angeles ChargersIf the Chargers resided in any other division in the AFC, they'd be a lock for double-digit wins. Instead, they have to fight their way out of the uber-competitive AFC West.In some ways, Los Angeles was the antithesis of the Raiders last season. While Oakland won the majority of its close games in 2016, the Chargers blew fourth-quarter lead after fourth-quarter lead.While those losses were tough, the Chargers' performances in close games will likely slide back to the league average. And they may avoid those situations as reinforcements arrive for the long-suffering Philip Rivers in the form of the returning Keenan Allen and a revamped offensive line.Knocking off the Chiefs is a tall task, but Rivers has some magic left in him, and Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram are arguably the top pass-rushing duo in a division stocked with edge talent.On paper, L.A. has the talent to stand with anyone in the division, but too often the Chargers fail to fulfill their potential.Also from this series

Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert released a statement Thursday clarifying that wideout Martavis Bryant is still in the process of being fully reinstated from a suspension by the NFL.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed left tackle Alejandro Villanueva to a four-year contract, the team announced Thursday.The contract is worth $24 million in total, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Villanueva was reportedly considering a training camp holdout, as he had yet to sign his exclusive rights free-agent tender. He was due to receive $615,000 in 2017 on his tender, but will now be paid $14 million in the first two years of his deal, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports, citing a source.The 28-year-old former Army Ranger has been the Steelers' starting left tackle for the past two seasons after spending part of the 2014 season on their practice squad. He started all 16 games in 2016.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Setting goals is generally a good idea, assuming they're realistic.New York Jets defensive end Leonard Williams disregarded the tanking talk that's surrounded his team and set some lofty expectations for the near future.Related: Marshall left Jets because they 'didn't have a chance' to win"I think it's definitely realistic," Williams told NY Daily News' Manish Mehta when asked if the Jets could win the Super Bowl sooner rather than later. "I know how much talent we have on our team."I think at this level it's not about who’s the most talented. It's about who's the most together as a team and who's going to play well with each other and have the least amount of mistakes."Related - Searching for a win: Breaking down the Jets' chances in all 16 gamesBy most accounts, the Jets are destined for one of the worst seasons in recent memory, but at least for now, it's be a good thing they haven't given up on themselves. Those 16 regular-season games aren't going to play themselves.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Google is perhaps the most popular source of information on the planet, but the search engine isn't always right.For instance, try searching Google for the phrase, "owner of the Jets."You'd think a photo of Woody Johnson, the owner of the New York Jets, would appear.You'd be wrong.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2017 Fantasy Football Draft KitFantasy football might be powered by skill-position stars, but offensive lines are the driving force that set most week-winning performances in motion.As you prepare for your drafts, it's crucial to consider how lines have changed heading into the new season and how those changes impact the players they're blocking for.Below, we rank all 32 offensive lines, taking into account past performance, offseason upgrades, overall depth, and the very underrated element of continuity.Offensive Line Rankings

Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman David Irving suffered an unusual and very painful-sounding injury at training camp Tuesday.Irving lost his nipple ring during a practice session and is now dealing with a ripped nipple:

Cam Newton has redemption on his mind.The Carolina Panthers passer slumped to his worst season as a pro in 2016, one year after taking the Panthers to the brink of a Super Bowl title.Speaking to the media Thursday, Newton referenced being in a different mindset this year."I took last year personally. I knew something had to change. I wanted people to see this was going to be a different year," Newton told reporters.Newton added that he realized the change has to start with him."For my career, I can't let (what happened last year) happen again. Ever."The Panthers have spoken about needing to evolve their offense, which was too dependent on Newton's skills as a runner lat year. They backed up that talk by adding Christian McCaffrey and Curtis Samuel, both hybrid receiver-runners who are deadly in the short passing game.Newton seemed on board with the talk of evolution, but didn't sound like he's interested in running less."That's my edge," he said. "You going to expect a lion not to roar?"Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When Cardale Jones burst onto the college football scene in the 2014 Big Ten championship, making his first start for Ohio State, he seemed destined for pro stardom.Jones led the Buckeyes to a 59-0 win, tossing three touchdowns and 257 yards on 17 attempts to earn game MVP. The power-arm passer followed that up with a victory over No. 1 ranked Alabama and a national championship-winning performance over Oregon.After just three starts, there were plenty of calls for Jones to enter the 2015 draft. While he elected to return to college and eventually lost his starting job, his potential remained obvious.Unfortunately for "12 Gauge," he was selected in the fourth round of the 2016 draft by the Buffalo Bills, who didn't really seem to have a plan for the project quarterback. On Wednesday, when he found out the Bills traded him to the Los Angeles Chargers, Jones began "crying tears of joy," according to ESPN's Adam Schefter - an appropriate reaction.The Chargers offer more than just a fresh start. Between their roster situation, a coach whose confidence in Jones comes from experience, and a commitment to developing him, they might even be the ideal situation for the quarterback at this point in his career.Jones' best asset is his elite arm strength, but the 25-year-old needs to clean up the other aspects of his game to become an NFL starter. He can't do that on his own. The Bills relied on a series of throwing sessions off to the side of practice and a late-game Week 17 appearance to semi-develop the former national champ, then drafted Pitt quarterback Nathan Peterman and committed to Tyrod Taylor as the current starter in the offseason.In Los Angeles, the setup is much more promising. Jones gets to sit and learn behind fellow strong-arm quarterback Philip Rivers, who's 35 and will have to be replaced in the somewhat near future. Beyond acquiring Jones, the Chargers have done little to prepare for Rivers' eventual retirement. They've held on to 34-year-old Kellen Clemens as a backup and drafted just two quarterbacks over the past decade, both in the fifth round or later.Not selecting a passer this year was against new head coach Anthony Lynn's wishes - but that's only seemed to work in Jones' favor. Lynn was Jones' interim offensive coordinator and, briefly, his head coach in Buffalo last season. After his experience with Jones, acquiring the player for Los Angeles lets Jones know he's going to a team that believes in him.Lynn, aware of Jones' physical gifts, sounds like he's not ready to let those gifts go to waste."Cardale is a good young talent, and he's going to add competition behind Philip Rivers," Lynn told the Chargers' website Wednesday night. "He's the type of quarterback you want waiting on the runway."He's going to have the opportunity to come on the field and compete. Cardale is someone we think can be developed."And if Jones is particularly concerned with the stardom element of his pro career, Los Angeles is a big improvement on the relative obscurity (and brutal weather) of Buffalo.For those who remember Jones' surprisingly strong passes and continuous first-down scrambles from his 2014 national championship run, this move should inspire optimism and belief in second chances.Many quarterbacks show big-league potential in college but get pushed aside due to a simple stumble. Jones has fallen into a refreshing situation that has the potential to be just as rewarding for him as it could be for his new team.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater met the media Thursday for the first time since suffering a devastating knee injury last summer and made it clear he will do whatever it takes to get all the way back."You have days when you don't see the progress, but it's a long process," Bridgewater said, according to Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper. "I'm in it for the long haul. I want to be the best version of Teddy I can be."Bridgewater mentioned being forced to learn how to use his body all over again, and added he's making sure not to look too far down the road but has never had any expectation except that he will one day play football again.The 24-year-old former first-round pick also said he draws inspiration in his road to recovery from his mother's fight against breast cancer.Bridgewater could open the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, which will force him to miss at least the first six games, but it's not out of the question he will take snaps for the Vikings this season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh told reporters Thursday that he's been in contact with free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick this summer and the team is interested in his services, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.With Joe Flacco reportedly sidelined for three to six weeks because of a back injury, the team could be in the market for a quarterback. Harbaugh did not say the team is negotiating with Kaepernick, but alluded to being open to signing him."I've known Colin through my brother for many years," said Harbaugh, according to Rapoport. "And we talked and then got to know him very well when he scrimmaged here. He and I have been talking throughout the summer a number of times. We had some great conversations on the phone and it's really been a pleasure to talk to him and get to know him."I like history and politics too, and we've had some debates. He's a great guy. He's a guy right now that's being talked about. We'll just see what happens with that. Only speculation right now. He's a really good football player and like I said, I do he'll be playing in the National Football League this year."Related: Could Flacco's injury finally open the door for Kaepernick?Kaepernick played for Harbaugh's brother, Jim, with the San Francisco 49ers. And John Harbaugh coached against Kaepernick and the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.John Harbaugh expressed a strong belief that Kaepernick would be signed in March, calling it "intellectually lazy" to assume he was being blackballed for his political and social stances.Kaepernick's only other reported interest came from the Seattle Seahawks, but it seems as though they may not have been particularly close to signing him.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the focus of this year's season of HBO's "Hard Knocks," which means fans will soon get a behind-the-scenes look at Jameis Winston and his teammates.Though the Buccaneers seem like a more interesting subject than last year's Los Angeles Rams, Winston cautioned that he's not likely to become HBO's next big star."I'm thankful for the opportunity. I can't compete with Jon Snow and people like that on ('Game of Thrones'). Hopefully I can help lead my team to a few victories," Winston said during an appearance on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football," according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times.While no one wants to see the level of carnage that occurs on "Game of Thrones" play out at Buccaneers training camp, it would be nice if the team provides a little more drama than last season offered.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens' offensive line took a major hit in brain power with John Urschel's decision to retire from football at age 26.Urschel, who was expected to compete to start at center for the Ravens, participated in offseason workouts with the Ravens but informed the team Thursday of his decision to retire.Urschel is more famous for what he does off the field than on it. He's a Ph.D. candidate in mathematics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and has released multiple research papers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants have yet to begin contract talks with Odell Beckham Jr., but a long-term deal between the team and its star wideout sounds nearly inevitable."They haven't begun as of yet, but ... they'll happen at the appropriate time," Giants co-owner John Mara recently told Steve Serby of the New York Post of those contract discussions. "I don't think we have a time frame on it. But we certainly don't want to see him playing in another uniform."Mara gushed about Beckham as a player and person."Listen, he's as exciting a player as we have had on this team in my lifetime, and he brings a lot of energy, a lot of big plays to us. And when you cut through everything else, he actually is a really good kid. He does a lot of wonderful things off the field that people don't know about. He needs to work on controlling his emotions a little bit more. But when he is on the field, the other teams have to pay attention to him … and he strikes fear into the eyes of the other team. As long as you have that ability, he makes your team better. He just adds a lot to us. We really haven't had a player like that here for a long time."Perhaps Mara gave away some leverage with these comments, but he's secure in knowing Beckham can't play for another team any time soon. The Giants exercised the fifth-year option in Beckham's rookie deal, so he is tied to the team through 2018, and they can use the franchise tag to keep Beckham beyond that.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When the Pittsburgh Steelers open training camp Thursday, not every player is expected to be in attendance.Running back Le'Veon Bell still hasn't signed his $12.1-million franchise tender, so it would be a shock if he shows up, as several analysts have noted.The deadline for signing a long-term deal has passed, so Bell has little to gain by reporting. He can't be fined for his absence because technically he isn't under contract until he signs his tender.It's common for players in Bell's situation to stay away from their team for some or all of training camp and to instead work out on their own, where the risk of injury is much less significant.Bell is tentatively expected to sign and report in time to play Week 1.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Williamson is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns and spent 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast."The NFL season is right around the corner, and this year's Hall of Fame inductions will rightfully kick off the campaign.The 2017 class is composed of Morton Anderson, Terrell Davis, Kenny Easley, Jerry Jones, Jason Taylor, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Kurt Warner. Over the next two weeks, we'll highlight the four best-known players - Warner, Tomlinson, Davis, and Taylor. This final post covers Taylor.By the look of Taylor, even today, you would think that this physical marvel that looks like a Greek god had a pretty easy road to stardom. That wasn’t the case at all.Taylor played a lot of wide receiver at Woodland Hills high school, an exceptional football program that has produced numerous NFL players, in Pittsburgh. But Taylor was home schooled from grades 10 through 12 and was not heavily recruited.Taylor ended up at the University of Akron and began to fill out his long and very impressive frame that quickly became ideal for rushing the passer. Taylor thrived while at Akron and even was an important member of their basketball team, which shows off his Julius Peppers-like athletic ability. Miami selected him in the third round of the 1997 draft, with his still-slender build considered his top weakness in his transition to the pros.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Taylor continued to physically grow and mature while honing his craft in the NFL. He quickly became one of the league’s most feared pass-rushers and had a great propensity for causing fumbles as well. In many ways he is the prototype edge defender. His initial quickness is superb and he has long powerful strides to eat up ground very quickly.His body type is ideal with long arms and powerful hands, but unlike many with his dimensions, Taylor showed no stiffness in his ability to get low, bend the edge or change directions. Displaying that athletic ability in space, Taylor intercepted eight passes in his career, although the smarter move was to have him rush the passer obviously.He was a very good run defender as well and played the game with an excellent motor that was infectious to his teammates. Taylor’s toughness showed in playing in 233 of a possible 240 regular season games throughout his career. Taylor was also the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2007 and is considered to have a very high football IQ as well as a man of great character.Over his outstanding 15-year career, almost all of it in Miami, Taylor racked up 139.5 sacks. In 2002, he recorded a whopping 18 sacks and got to double digits in six different seasons. From 2000 to 2007, Taylor was truly dominating. During that stretch, he had just over 100 sacks, averaging 12.5 a year during that time and was the Defensive MVP in 2006.This guy made a ton of big plays. From 2000-2011, no one in the NFL had more sacks than Taylor, which is a testament to his skill and longevity.In an era that is loaded with supreme players at his position, making enshrinements for edge rushers to get into the Hall of Fame very competitive, Taylor clearly belongs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos running back Devontae Booker is expected to miss up to six-to-eight weeks with a wrist injury, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reports.Booker, a fourth-round pick in last year's draft, was set to enter his sophomore season competing for a role in Denver's offensive backfield rotation.Though he may have been facing an uphill battle against the likes of C.J. Anderson and Jamaal Charles, the recent injury history of both veterans certainly added to his potential value.A six-to-eight week timeline, even if he's able to return on the short side, would appear to put Booker's Week 1 availability into jeopardy.The injury should result in a more significant workload for sixth-round rookie De'Angelo Henderson over the next few weeks. Additional reps in both training camp and preseason action could very well help him carve out a role in the unsettled backfield situation.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cam Newton appears to be right on track.In what can be considered an incredibly positive development in his ongoing recovery from shoulder surgery, the Carolina Panthers quarterback resumed throwing passes in practice Wednesday.After not throwing during OTAs, this marks his first team-drill activity since undergoing the procedure on a partially torn rotator cuff in March."Another step in the process,'' Newton said, according to David Newton of ESPN. "It's a start. Everything felt good, but we have a long way to go to get where I know we can be. Tonight was just fun getting out on the grass in front of the fans and throwing it around a little bit."The Panthers can be expected to work their star signal-caller back into the mix slowly, and it would certainly be understandable if it took him a few weeks to find his rhythm.Being able to participate in passing drills so early in camp, however, is another indication he's well on his way to being ready for the beginning of the regular season.Newton will enter the 2017 campaign looking to bounce back from a frustrating year in which he completed just 52.9 percent of passes for 3,509 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.Anything close to his MVP form from the year prior, where he accounted for a total of 45 touchdowns through the air and on the ground, would go a long way toward the Panthers' chances of making a swift return to the playoffs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.